Construction up first for school bond funds

The Stuttgart High School’s air conditioning units would have second priority. Bryant said the units are presently sitting on top of the school’s roofs and are now 15-years old.

Sarah Morris, smorris@stuttgartdailyleader.com

The layout of the Stuttgart Junior High is the first priority for the Stuttgart School District as officials start the process of using bond funds for construction.

Superintendent Dr. Melvin Bryant said the junior high’s round layout is a safety concern and an official entry way would be created to allow the school’s officials to greet each person as they enter the building.

The Stuttgart High School’s air conditioning units would have second priority. Bryant said the units are presently sitting on top of the school’s roofs and are now 15-years old.

It’s urgent that they are replaced. Bryant said, first, they were not installed adequately and will have to be retrofitted to the ground. Officials would next have to consider how to patch up the roof where the units were originally.

Bryant said these are the mains goals for now, although they also hope to use bond money to expand the band and choir rooms, possibly add a safe room in some form or fashion and to move the air conditioning units at the other school campuses from the roofs to the ground.

Funds for the project would come from the school millage increase that Stuttgart residents approved in September 2012. Residents voted for 31.9 mills to increase to 36.9 mills on the understanding that the funds would be divided into four categories: Construction, instructional/technology, maintenance and operation and physical plant.

The millage allowed $11,541,549.25 to be transferred Nov. 21, 2012, to pay off the July 1, 2010, bond issue while $28,214.58 went toward the district’s bond fund or debt service fund.

Approximately $4,543,837.14 was credited to the district’s construction fund. Bryant said the district has to have all funds committed within 21 months with the commitments completed within 36 months after that.

The board of education selected two architect firms from Little Rock, Jackson Brown Palculict and WER, on Tuesday. Bryant said two firms were selected to help the district accomplish several projects in a short period of time.

School officials are also moving forward with salary increases. In November 2012, a $1,000 bonus was given to all full-time certified and classified employees. At the time, the board said it was a good faith gesture as they continued to look at employee raises.

Bryant said the increase would cost about $800,000 and should be in place before employee contracts go out in April for the upcoming school year. It would be the first salary increase given in five years.

On Tuesday, board member Henry Newby said the salary increases are a high priority to help increase the district’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining the quality of teachers needed.

In instructional/technology, Bryant has said the money would be used to update and repair existing technology. It would also go toward a state mandate for all students to take their assessments online within another two years.

Each student would have to have a computer or iPad to take the annual test.

Bryant said they are still trying to decide on whether to purchase desktop computers or iPads, and the decision is on hold until the state Board of Education responds further on the mandate, including what will be provided and how the mandate will be paid for.

An answer is expected by July 1. Bryant added that the update will be easier since the school was proactive last year in having a fiber optic network put in.

The district also plans to use funds to keep its bus fleet in good shape. Bryant said they need to purchase at least two buses a year to keep the fleet in good shape and operation.

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